IBM has announced plans to develop the largest quantum computer to date, aiming to set a new qubit record in 2025. The company intends to link multiple smaller quantum processors into a single, modular system, surpassing current technological milestones and advancing the field of quantum computing.
This innovation represents a significant leap for IBM, which unveiled its first commercial quantum computer six years ago, equipped with 20 quantum bits (qubits). Today, IBM’s most advanced chip, Condor, boasts 1,121 qubits. However, the typical user of IBM’s quantum computing services currently operates with around 100 qubits, highlighting the potential for growth and increased computational power.
While IBM no longer holds the record for the most qubits—a title claimed by start-up Atom Computing with its 1,180-qubit device unveiled in 2023—the company is determined to reclaim its leadership in the field. Jay Gambetta, IBM’s vice president of quantum computing, emphasized the need for new approaches to scaling up: “We know we can’t just make Condor but 10 times bigger. The only way to get quantum advantage is to combine different components.”
To achieve this, IBM is adopting a modular design strategy by connecting several smaller quantum processors to create a more powerful, paralleliSed machine. This approach addresses a critical engineering challenge: fitting an increasing number of qubits and their corresponding input and output wires onto a single chip.
As part of this strategy, IBM has prototyped a new chip called Flamingo, which will play a central role in its plans for 2025. The company intends to connect three Flamingo chips into a 1,386-qubit system, breaking current size records. Looking ahead to 2026, IBM plans to introduce another chip, named Kookaburra, as a foundational component for a 4,158-qubit quantum computer. This system, comprising three interconnected Kookaburra chips, would create an unprecedented technological gap between IBM and its competitors in both commercial and academic quantum computing.
The success of IBM’s modular quantum computers depends on the development of specialized couplers, components that enable connections between chips and individual qubits at varying distances. IBM has built and tested two types of couplers, but a third, essential for fully modular quantum systems, remains under development.
In a promising demonstration of its modular technology, IBM connected two of its 127-qubit chips in November 2023 to perform a calculation involving 142 qubits—a task that exceeded the capacity of either chip individually. The next challenge, as Gambetta explained, is scaling up the total number of qubits while minimizing the errors that occur when chips are interconnected.
This ambitious plan signifies IBM’s commitment to advancing quantum computing technology, with the potential to revolutionize various industries by solving complex problems beyond the reach of classical computers.